The fight against HIV/Aids is being hampered by a massive shortage of condoms — only about one-tenth of the 10,8-billion needed were available in developing countries in 2003 and there seems little chance of meeting a target of 18,6-billion by 2015.
The shortfall is partly due to a lack of funding for the United Nations Population Fund, which has had its income slashed by the Bush administration. The American right has lobbied strongly and successfully against giving money to agencies that support family planning clinics offering advice on abortion.
On Thursday the British International Development Minister, Gareth Thomas, will appeal to the EU to use its influence to get reproductive health and the condom issue discussed at the summit on the UN’s millennium development goals in September.
”If we are going to try to tackle the Aids crisis in Africa and stop it expanding in Asia, we have got to increase funding for UNFPA and get reproductive health rights discussed,” he said.
In a speech at the Overseas Development Institute in London, alongside Louis Michel, the EU Development and Humanitarian Rights Commissioner, Thomas will urge Europe to exercise leadership.
Condoms are very effective in protecting men and women from infection with the HIV virus, which leads to Aids. But in Africa only four condoms a year are available for every man between 15 and 59 years old.
The US administration backs the use of condoms in its Aids-defeating mantra ABC — abstinence, be faithful and condoms — although some groups in the US would add, only as a last resort.
But family planning clinics which dispense condoms and offer a range of sexual health services, may give a woman advice if she wants an abortion, even if they do not provide an abortion service. The conservative right in the US is opposed to US funds for any organisation or agency with links to abortion. The UN Population Fund has had millions of dollars withheld by the US because of allegations that it supported pro-abortion clinics.
The issue is a source of tension between the UK and US governments. The Department for International Development has provided extra cash for organisations involved in reproductive health work that have lost funding from the US. Ministers have said that reproductive health is a major issue in the empowerment of women, which would do much to help limit the spread of Aids. – Guardian Unlimited Â